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Our 3rd Annual Midwest Tomato Fest is tentatively scheduled for August 27 from 1:30 to 3:30-4:00 pm. The log cabin shelter AREA of Antelope Park, Lincoln, NE. Please let us know how your plants are doing - depending on ripeness we can alter the date. So far in this immediate area we have had less than 1/2 inch of rain since right before Memorial Day. However, my vines are looking good, loads of flowers and a fair set of toms, with highest hopes this year. Let me hear from you - last year we sampled 65 varieties and shared great food and RAIN, we had buckets of RAIN! Mr. Tudball - are you out there???? Piegirl

Thanks KC - are you going to drive up???? We are a smaller group but tons of spirit! Maggie, our vegetarian/organic grower will be there with her dad - they produce great toms. Mark from Grand Island is coming with his family and Paul and Kay, several others from Lincoln/Omaha. And this is the best - a friend is bringing a family heirloom tom - 90 yr old grandfather plus great grandfather grew these and they have kept them in family - supposed to be medium pink color, rl, some ridges, not overly juicy, they think it is probably german in origin. She shared a plant w/ me and all I know is it one hardy little (not so little anymore) plant - never wilted once with horrible heat/humidity we have had, and only light mulch, sofar disease free. It is tough. Join us. Piegirl

Will you finally be in the area? Usually Denise (piegirl) sets us up for the third or fourth Sunday in August in Lincoln. Ne. Although we lost one of our original group this year, we will have several newcomers. A better group of people you will never meet and there are always lots of tomatoes and other really good things to sample (remind Piegirl to make scones this year). Bring the family, we are "G" rated and we meet in a large park that is kid friendly. I vote for Aug. 26.

Hi Lori - Paul told me there were messages - glad you are
in the area and happy to have you attend. Aug 26 sounds good
to me - I'll spread the word locally. The lemon scones will
be there along with tomato preserves - while they are probably
an acquired taste, I grew up eating t-preserves which probablt
helped develop the love of tomatoes,etc. Look forward to meeting you
and your family - as Paul said, great park with fantastic play-
ground. Nice breezy area and by now, I think the Lutheran's
save us a table or two - Denise

Hi Everyone - Plans are underway for the 4th annual Midwest
Tomato Fest - Sunday, August 26th - Lincoln, Nebraska. We
will meet NEAR the Log Cabin Shelter in Antelope Park - 29th
and A Streets. 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Bring any varieties you wish
to share, a palate cleanser, drink (no alcohol) - salsa, chips,
etc. Ice water will be provided. Last year we sampled 65
varieties - the outstanding, the good, and the spitters! I
will bring the lemon scones and probably fresh tomato preserves.
Antelope is a very family friendly park with great new playground
for those with children. Piegirl

I just got through reading through the "Insipid tomato" thread in the general discussion area, and noticed I failed back in May to see PieGirl's invitation (in that thread) to the Midwest Fest. How rude of me not to have noticed.

So I wandered over to this thread to see if you guys and gals already had your get together, and see that you had it on the 26th of August. I'm sure you all had lots of fun. I actually moved on August 1st back to my home state of Ohio so I could not have come anyways. Plus, I wasn't able to grow anything out this summer.
Congrats on what I'm sure was a successful Tomato Fest. And thanks for the invite even though I did not see it until this evening PieGirl. Nebraska is truly a fine state! I lived there for 3 1/2 years so I can attest to that.

Hi Kent and Kathy - we haven't picked a date as yet - but we discussed a week or two earlier than last year - but you know how unpredictable our growing season is. So mark the 10th, 17th and 24th. The 10th may be too early. I can't speak for Paul but the 17th sounds pretty good? I'll be sure and bring that jar of 'imported' peeled cherry tomato. The shelf life is until October of 09! I forgot to mention they did have a rather nasty aftertaste about 10 minutes later. Denise